While Don Brash packs-'em-out in the provinces, Pansy Wong presided over an inaugural meeting of National's new gay branch in Auckland last night - apparently signing up 20 new members. I think this is a good thing. As OtherPundit points out, there's no law against being both gay and politically conservative. But they'll have to stick a muzzle on Gerry Brownlee some time: otherwise it's going to be hard staying in a party whose deputy leader has publicly equated same-sex civil unions with child prostitution.

Now, I'm tolerant of most forms of human interaction, especially, but not exclusively, where they involve love and commitment (unlike National's deputy leader Gerry Brownlee, I'm not inclined to lump in same-sex civil unions with child prostitution).

Speaking of which, what on earth is Brownlee doing comparing child prostitution with a move to create a form of civil union that offers same-sex couples basic rights?

Note the creeping severity of adjectives each time. First, Brownlee "compares", next he "lumps in", and now he "equates".

But what did Brownlee actually say? This entire smear campaign is based this article (mentioned in Russell's first post on the subject):

Mr Brownlee, a Catholic, accused the group of Anglican and Catholic bishops of "weak thinking" and said they were like something out of the television satire Blackadder.

He also accused the bishops of failing as the "moral leaders" of society.

"Where were they on the prostitution bill? Not a whisper. Where were they on the lowering of the drinking age? Not a whisper. Where are they on the civil union bill?

"Their silence is the reason there are child prostitutes on the streets of Christchurch," he said.

Anyone with a rudimentary level of comprehension ability can see that he isn't equating the two- Brownlee is merely listing examples where churches have been silent on issues where you would expect them to be vocal. In short, Russell is being mendacious weasel, and should apologize forthwith.

In the meantime, perhaps Mediawatch should get on the case and take a look at this. Oh wait...